Suicide rate, by sex in Malaysia
Malaysia: Suicide rate, by sex was 5.53 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021. ▼ Falling
Latest (2021)
5.53 deaths per 100,000 people
Change on year
up 28.4%
World rank
131st
of 194 countries
All-time high
5.7 deaths per 100,000 people
in 2000
All-time low
4.31 deaths per 100,000 people
in 2020
Years of data
22
2000–2021
Suicide rate, by sex in Malaysia, 2000–2021
Source: World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths per 100,000 people.
Analysis
In 2021, suicide rate, by sex in Malaysia stood at 5.53 deaths per 100,000 people.
That represents a change of up 28.4% on the previous year and up 12.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, suicide rate, by sex in Malaysia peaked at 5.7 deaths per 100,000 people in 2000 and was at its lowest, 4.31 deaths per 100,000 people, in 2020.
That places Malaysia 131st out of 194 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 22 years of available data.
Suicide rate, by sex in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 5.7 deaths per 100,000 people | — |
| 2001 | 5.45 deaths per 100,000 people | -4.4% |
| 2002 | 5.34 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.0% |
| 2003 | 5.49 deaths per 100,000 people | +2.9% |
| 2004 | 5.44 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.1% |
| 2005 | 5.27 deaths per 100,000 people | -3.1% |
| 2006 | 5.08 deaths per 100,000 people | -3.5% |
| 2007 | 4.96 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.3% |
| 2008 | 5.08 deaths per 100,000 people | +2.4% |
| 2009 | 5.14 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.1% |
| 2010 | 5.05 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.8% |
| 2011 | 4.93 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.3% |
| 2012 | 4.67 deaths per 100,000 people | -5.2% |
| 2013 | 4.56 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.3% |
| 2014 | 4.69 deaths per 100,000 people | +2.8% |
| 2015 | 5.12 deaths per 100,000 people | +9.3% |
| 2016 | 5.18 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 5.29 deaths per 100,000 people | +2.2% |
| 2018 | 5.39 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.9% |
| 2019 | 5.41 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 4.31 deaths per 100,000 people | -20.4% |
| 2021 | 5.53 deaths per 100,000 people | +28.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 5.29 deaths per 100,000 people | 4.96 deaths per 100,000 people | 5.7 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.03 deaths per 100,000 people | 4.56 deaths per 100,000 people | 5.41 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.92 deaths per 100,000 people | 4.31 deaths per 100,000 people | 5.53 deaths per 100,000 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
- 128 Bosnia and Herzegovina 5.74 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 129 Tonga 5.62 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 130 Malta 5.58 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 132 Afghanistan 5.39 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 133 North Macedonia 5.35 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 134 Guatemala 5.33 deaths per 100,000 people compare
More health data for Malaysia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -0.9119 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.2888 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,250 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 652 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 50-54, male, annual growth rate 3.25 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 50-54, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 50-54, male, per capita 0.0272 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 55-59, female, annual growth rate 2.03 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 55-59, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 55-59, female, per capita 0.022 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is suicide rate, by sex in Malaysia?
- Suicide rate, by sex in Malaysia was 5.53 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021, according to World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest suicide rate, by sex recorded in Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 5.7 deaths per 100,000 people in 2000.
- What is the lowest suicide rate, by sex recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.31 deaths per 100,000 people in 2020.
- How does Malaysia rank for suicide rate, by sex?
- Malaysia ranks 131st out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is suicide rate, by sex rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Malaysia data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Suicide rate, by sex. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated number of age-standardized deaths from self-harm in both sexes, per 100,000 people.